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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

relationship en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ɹəˈlæ̝ɪʃ(ə)nˌʃɪp/ (Australia)
  • /ɹɪˈleɪʃ(ə)nˌʃɪp/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • /ɹəˈleɪʃ(ə)nˌʃɪp/ weak vowel merger
  • (General-American) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree English relation Proto-Germanic *skapjaną Proto-Germanic *-skapiz Proto-West Germanic *-skapi Old English -sċiepe Middle English -schipe English -ship English relationship From relation + -ship. Displaced native Old English sibb.

Meanings

  1. A connection or association; the condition of being related.
    • Near-synonym: alliance
    • But some discussion of the complex relationship between “allohistory” and sf is appropriate here, as the genres overlap in certain ways. Classical allohistory— such as Trevelyan's "What if Napoleon had won the Battle of Waterloo?" and Churchill's "If Lee had not won the Battle of Gettysburg" —is a rigorously consistent thought-experiment in historical causality. 2011 February 1, Istvan Csicsery-Ronay, Jr., The Seven Beauties of Science Fiction, Wesleyan University Press, →ISBN, pages 102–103:
    • “The United States government maintains relationships with unofficial partners around the world, and Taiwan is no exception. Our two democracies share common values of individual freedom, the rule of law, and a respect for human dignity. Today’s statement recognizes that the US-Taiwan relationship need not, and should not, be shackled by self-imposed restrictions of our permanent bureaucracy,” Pompeo wrote. 2021 January 9, Kylie Atwood, quoting Mike Pompeo, “US lifts self-imposed restrictions with Taiwan”, in CNN, archived from the original on 25 Jan 2021:
  2. The links between the x-values and y-values of ordered pairs of numbers especially coordinates.
    • Policing the relationship between government and business in a free society is difficult. Businesspeople have every right to lobby governments, and civil servants to take jobs in the private sector. 2013 August 10, Schumpeter, “Cronies and capitols”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848, archived from the original on 10 Mar 2023:
  3. Kinship; being related by blood or marriage.
  4. A romantic or sexual involvement.
    • Her most satisfying sexual relationship seemed to be a threesome with Charles Chaplin Jr. and Eddy Robinson Jr., the spurned sons of famous film fathers. 2000 April 8, Dorthea Straus, “Oates on Marilyn: Men, drugs, tragedy”, in The Baltimore Sun:
    • I'm not advocating sexual promiscuity but I think it's possible for a woman to have many kinds of sexual relationships with many men and that shouldn't affect the status of the marriage. 1975 March 17, Marian Christy, “Suzy Chaffee, A Liberated Beauty”, in The Lebanon Daily News:
    • Only 25.3% of our participants had a social peer group, and just 3.4% had ever been in a romantic relationship. None were currently in a relationship or married. 2025 August 13, Müjdat Erarkadaş, Kübra Özmeral Erarkadaş, Şahika Gülen Şişmanlar, “Autism Spectrum Disorder Beyond Childhood: A Comprehensive Assessment of Activities of Daily Living and Social Functioning in Turkish Adults”, in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, →DOI:
    • They have been in a relationship for ten years, but have never married.
    • Contrary to the popular perception that love typically sparks from passion, a new study finds two-thirds of romantic relationships begin as long-term friendships. 2021 July 20, Sarah Molano, “Most romantic relationships start as friendships, study finds”, in CNN, archived from the original on 02 Jul 2025:
  5. A way in which two or more people behave and are involved with each other.
    • “I Love Lisa” opens with one of my favorite underappreciated running jokes from The Simpsons: the passive-aggressive, quietly contentious relationship of radio jocks Bill and Marty, whose mindless happy talk regularly gives way to charged exchanges that betray the simmering resentment and disappointment perpetually lingering just under the surface of their relationship. 2012 August 5, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “I Love Lisa” (season 4, episode 15; originally aired 02/11/1993)”, in A.V. Club, archived from the original on 29 Mar 2013:
    • I have a good working relationship with my boss.
    • Near-synonym: footing
    • The guide states that partnerships will require relationships between the railway and local authorities to function "like never before", responding to both the changes to the structure of the railways and the growing delivery roles of MSAs [Mayoral Strategic Authorities]. 2026 March 18, Peter Plisner, “Will devolution deliver real local control?”, in RAIL, number 1057, page 45:
    • As the two railways were to meet end-on, providing a continuous line from Parkside to Lancaster, it would have been expected that they would work together harmoniously for their common interests, but the quibble over the connection strained the relationship from the beginning. 1960 February 14, M. D. Greville and G. O. Holt, “Railway Development in Preston—1”, in Railway Magazine, page 96:
  6. The level or degree of affinity between keys, chords and tones.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
relationships Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

steprelationship · relfie · long-distance relationship · special relationship · flirtationship · relationshiply · entity-relationship model · vacationship · rebound relationship · brolationship · relationship status · step-relationship · relationshipwise · new relationship energy · relationshippy · relationshipless · relationshipping · textationship · legal relationship · antirelationship · entity relationship diagram · customer relationship · cyberrelationship · relationshopping · open relationship · unrelationshipped · structure-activity relationship · isolationship · e-relationship · intrarelationship · nonrelationship · entity-relationship diagram · sexship · relationshipper · fakeship · blood relationship · relationship anarchy · situationship · relationshit · interrelationship

Relateds

relation · relate · relative

Synonyms

footing · alliance

Translations (248)

te బంధుత్వము (kinship) · hy հարաբերություն (connection or association) · ru любо́вные отноше́ния (romantic or sexual involvement) · tr kohumluk (kinship) · hi रिश्ता (kinship) · fa-ira نِسْبَت (connection or association) · tl relasyon (romantic or sexual involvement) · de Verwandtschaft (kinship) · gd càirdeas (kinship) · io relato (connection or association) · ga gaolmhaireacht (kinship) · ru родство́ (kinship) · tr ilişki (romantic or sexual involvement) · uk взаємовідно́сини (connection or association) · pl stosunek (romantic or sexual involvement) · ru каса́тельство (connection or association) · pl stosunek (connection or association) · hy հարաբերություններ (romantic or sexual involvement) · ia relation (connection or association) · sk vzťah (connection or association) · mk однос (connection or association) · ja 関係 (connection or association) · hu kapcsolat (connection or association) · uk відно́сини (connection or association) · sq marrëdhënie (connection or association) · tg робита (connection or association) · da slægtskab (kinship) · nl verhouding (romantic or sexual involvement) · mk врска (connection or association) · ar صِلَة (kinship) · tg нисбат (connection or association) · uk спорі́днення (kinship) · ka ნათესაობა (kinship) · pl pokrewieństwo (kinship) · ru отноше́ние (connection or association) · ps ارتباط (connection or association) · ur مناسبت (connection or association) · sv förhållande (the way in which people behave and are involved with each other) · ps اړيکه (connection or association) · gd dàimh (connection or association) · tr ilişki (connection or association) · tg алоқа (connection or association) · fi suhde (romantic or sexual involvement) · it relazione (romantic or sexual involvement) · el σχέση (romantic or sexual involvement) · mi taunekeneke (the way in which people behave and are involved with each other) · te సంబంధము (connection or association) · la coniūnctiō (kinship) · be ро́днасьць (kinship) · lad alishik (connection or association) · nl verwantschap (connection or association) · mk сродство (kinship) · cmn 血緣 /血缘 (kinship) · bg връ́зка (connection or association) · fa-ira مُناسِبَت (connection or association) · nl relatie (romantic or sexual involvement) · gl relación (connection or association) · ur رِشْتِہ داری (connection or association) · bg връ́зка (romantic or sexual involvement) · hu párkapcsolat (romantic or sexual involvement) · tr hısımlık (kinship) · uk відно́сини (romantic or sexual involvement) · sl sorodstvo (kinship) · fr relation (romantic or sexual involvement) · tr karabet (kinship) · hu kapcsolat (romantic or sexual involvement) · sv relation (romantic or sexual involvement) · eo amrilato (romantic or sexual involvement) · ne नाता (kinship) · da forhold (romantic or sexual involvement) · sh сро̀дство (kinship) · fr rapport (connection or association) · ps مناسبت (connection or association) · cmn 性關係 /性关系 (romantic or sexual involvement) · el σχέση (connection or association) · kk қарым-қатынас (connection or association) · fa-ira عَلاقِه (connection or association) · pl związek (connection or association) · ko 혈연 (kinship) · ro raport (connection or association) · sw uhusiano (connection or association) · mi pātahitanga (connection or association) · ur رِشْتَہ (connection or association) · nb forhold (connection or association) · nn tilhøve (connection or association) · eo parenceco (kinship) · ms hubungan (connection or association) · mr संबंध (romantic or sexual involvement) · ru отноше́ние (the connection between ordered pairs of numbers in mathematics) · it parentela (kinship) · es relación (connection or association) · pt relacionamento (connection or association) · de Beziehung (romantic or sexual involvement) · pdt Veheltniss (kinship) · kk қатынас (connection or association) · gu સંબંધ (connection or association) · nn samband (connection or association) · es relación (romantic or sexual involvement) · ja 血族関係 (kinship) · sh ве̏за (romantic or sexual involvement) · ug مۇناسىۋەت (connection or association) · bg ро́дство (kinship) · cmn 親屬 /亲属 (kinship) · fi sukulaisuus (kinship) · ro legătură (romantic or sexual involvement) · bg отноше́ние (the connection between ordered pairs of numbers in mathematics) · vi quan hệ (connection or association) · kmr eleqe (connection or association) · sw husiano (connection or association) · cs příbuznost (kinship) · ro relație (connection or association) · ml ബന്ധം (connection or association) · br darempred (connection or association) · bg отноше́ние (connection or association) · tl kaugnayan (connection or association) · hu viszony (romantic or sexual involvement) · ar عَلَاقَة (kinship) · tr akrabalık (kinship) · ga gaol (kinship) · tr bağlantı (connection or association) · fr relation (kinship) · cs vztah (romantic or sexual involvement) · hi रिश्ता (connection or association) · bg родни́нство (kinship) · ar مُنَاسَبَة (connection or association) · ga baint (connection or association) · ru рома́н (romantic or sexual involvement) · cmn 親屬關係 /亲属关系 (kinship) · ko 친족 관계 (kinship) · io parenteso (kinship) · es noviazgo (romantic or sexual involvement) · ast rellación (connection or association) · ar عَلَاقَة (connection or association) · pt relação (romantic or sexual involvement) · da forhold (connection or association) · pt parentesco (kinship) · th สัมพันธไมตรี (connection or association) · el συγγένεια (kinship) · de Verwandtschaft (connection or association) · is samband (connection or association) · mn харилцаа (connection or association) · nb forhold (romantic or sexual involvement) · pl relacja (connection or association) · lt sántykis (connection or association) · it storia (romantic or sexual involvement) · km ញាតិភាព (kinship) · lad relasyón (connection or association) · cmn 關係 /关系 (connection or association) · az münasibət (connection or association) · ja 血縁 (kinship) · he קֶשֶׁר (connection or association) · uz munosabat (connection or association) · hy փոխհարաբերություն (connection or association) · de Beziehung (connection or association) · kk қарым-қатыс (connection or association) · my အဆက်အသွယ် (connection or association) · sk príbuzenstvo (kinship) · sh vȅza (romantic or sexual involvement) · pt relação (connection or association) · ia connexion (connection or association) · mn холбоо (connection or association) · cs vztah (connection or association) · be свая́цтва (kinship) · az qohumluq (kinship) · eo rilato (connection or association) · sh о̀днос (connection or association) · km ការទាក់ទង (connection or association) · hi संबंध (connection or association) · ro relație (romantic or sexual involvement) · oc relacion (connection or association) · ga gaolmhaireacht (connection or association) · hu rokonság (kinship) · cmn 情愛關係 /情爱关系 (romantic or sexual involvement) · be адно́сіны (connection or association) · ro rudenie (kinship) · sv förhållande (the connection between ordered pairs of numbers in mathematics) · lv attiecība (connection or association) · ja 親族 (kinship) · ga baint (romantic or sexual involvement) · sh sròdstvo (kinship) · yue 關係 /关系 (connection or association) · uk спорі́дненість (kinship) · te సంబంధము (romantic or sexual involvement) · mi hononga (connection or association) · fo samband (romantic or sexual involvement) · id relasi (connection or association) · sv förhållande (connection or association) · pt relacionamento (romantic or sexual involvement) · ru связь (connection or association) · is samband (romantic or sexual involvement) · ota نسبت (connection or association) · sl odnos (connection or association) · ky алака (connection or association) · kmr minasibet (connection or association) · pl powiązanie (connection or association) · got 𐍃𐌹𐌱𐌾𐌰 (kinship) · ro asociere (connection or association) · az əlaqə (connection or association) · ky мамиле (connection or association) · fi suhde (connection or association) · ko 관계 (the way in which people behave and are involved with each other) · uz muomala (connection or association) · fy sibskip (connection or association) · ru интри́га (romantic or sexual involvement) · gu સગપણ (kinship) · gl parentesco (kinship) · be ро́днасць (kinship) · ga comhchaidreamh (connection or association) · tg муносибат (connection or association) · vi liên hệ (connection or association) · id hubungan (connection or association) · ru взаимоотноше́ние (connection or association) · ro legătură (connection or association) · km ញាតិវង្ស (kinship) · sv släktskap (kinship) · hu viszony (connection or association) · fi sukulaisuussuhde (kinship) · sv relation (connection or association) · fi yhteys (connection or association) · de Verhältnis (romantic or sexual involvement) · he מַעֲרֶכֶת יְחָסִים (connection or association) · hi रिश्तेदारी (connection or association) · ko 친족 (kinship) · ro înrudire (kinship) · az əqrabalıq (kinship) · sh òdnos (connection or association) · et suhe (connection or association) · tl relasyon (connection or association) · ne सम्बन्ध (connection or association) · ka ურთიერთობა (romantic or sexual involvement) · fa-ira رابِطِه (connection or association) · ca relació (connection or association) · it relazione (connection or association) · ka ურთიერთობა (connection or association) · sv förhållande (romantic or sexual involvement) · ru взаимосвя́зь (connection or association) · la necessitudo (connection or association) · mk врска (romantic or sexual involvement) · it rapporto (connection or association) · ps علاقه (connection or association) · cs příbuzenství (kinship) · gd dàimh (kinship) · ga cleamhnas (kinship) · ko 관계 (connection or association) · sl zveza (connection or association) · it legame (romantic or sexual involvement) · mi pānga (the connection between ordered pairs of numbers in mathematics) · mr नाते (connection or association)